Legacy Thinking in Business - Engr Rice Kajila

Our guest speaker on the 4th episode of Life Series is Engr Rice Kajila. The discussion explored Engineer Rice's insights on business, purpose, family, relationships, and what it truly takes to create lasting, meaningful success across generations.

1. Working with Family

Engineer Rice highlights the complexity of working with family members. Often, competition, envy, and insecurity can destroy synergy before it even starts. He likens this to the "crab mentality"—an environment where one pulls another down instead of lifting up.

To overcome this, he advises creating systems that allow each person to flourish, honoring unique talents and assigning roles accordingly. Marketing, finance, operations—each person has a strength. When well-structured, family businesses can become unstoppable forces.

Insights

• Don't compete, complement. Healthy families and teams are built on mutual respect for different gifts.

• Assign by strength, not sentiment. That someone is family doesn't mean they're fit for every role.

• True leaders build systems that outlast emotions.

2. Passion as a Compass: Why Purpose Outlasts Pressure

As a child, Engineer Rice was fascinated by moving things and people. Though he initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, he discovered a deep passion for logistics and transport, now running a successful China-based supply and sourcing business.

He’s volunteered in his area of passion—driving people around—long before monetizing it. That selfless expression clarified his calling and revealed market opportunities.

Insights

• Your childhood fascinations are not accidents. They often whisper your purpose.

• Volunteering your passion is a sacred rehearsal. What you give away without charge can later attract value and income.

• Don’t chase money, follow passion—it will lead you through pain without burnout.

3. Mindset Rewiring: Rethinking Money, Failure, and Solitude

The Double Rule of Money; Engineer Rice teaches a simple but powerful principle: if you work consistently, your income can double yearly. Why? Because money's value inflates and your skills compound.

Seasons of Solitude; Twice in his life, he withdrew to reset. He shut out noise, read books, reprogrammed his mindset, and re-emerged with clarity and fresh direction. Though misunderstood, those seasons helped him grow beyond shallow expectations.

Insights

• Solitude is not selfishness—it's soul renovation.

• Failures aren't stop signs; they are stepping stones.

• View money as a tool, not a trophy. Its purpose is to serve people, not define your value.

4. Building Businesses That Actually Work

What Works and What Doesn’t; don't bring things people don’t want into the market. Listen to the culture, study the needs, and launch products people are already paying for.

The Courage to Launch; Fear keeps many from starting. But rejection, critique, and even poverty can become fuel if you choose to grow through them. Let your friends test your ideas—even if their feedback stings.

Insights

• “Launch the thing.” Ideas mature best in the real world, not your head.

• Feedback isn’t fatal—it's fertilizer.

• Don’t be ashamed of being broke. Be ashamed of dying with ideas unlaunched.

5. Authentic Networking: Be You, Be Honest, Be Liked

People do business with people they like. And people like those who are real, relatable, and honest—especially with money. Engineer Rice insists that being likable and trustworthy trumps being loud or overly polished.

He sees open doors in China for freelancers willing to learn, connect with factories, and serve overseas markets. But shyness is a deal-breaker.

Insights

• People do business with energy before strategy. Your vibe matters.

• Authenticity is magnetic. Be you, not a copy.

• Honesty with money is your longest-lasting currency.

6. Love Across Cultures: Marriage in a Globalized World

Can You Do Business with Your Spouse?

In today's reality, beauty isn't enough. Can your spouse understand your vision? Can they hold a conversation about business and contribute meaningfully? His wife, from China, is a silent strength behind his success—interpreting contracts, navigating policies, and standing beside him.

Navigating Cultural Shocks

From seating norms to family customs, cross-cultural relationships demand high communication and humility. He shares humorous and sobering examples from his DRC-Chinese marriage.

Insights

• Marriage is not just love—it's logistics. Can your partner support your mission?

• You don’t marry a person alone—you marry their history, customs, and future.

• Let what joins you be stronger than what divides you.

Final Takeaway: The Hidden Thread

Beneath the business strategies, cross-cultural stories, and wealth philosophies lies a deeper truth—wholeness is built on clarity of purpose, integrity in partnership, and courage to keep showing up.

Engineer Rice reminds us that success is not for the smartest or the loudest, but for those who align their passions with systems, find people they can trust, and never stop reinventing themselves.